Whew

Saturday was the debut of our Botetourt Family Farmers Farmer Market. A local business, Ikenberry's-a farm orchard, allowed us to start up a weekly farmer's market. The newspaper wrote up a little blurb. We expected a few people to show up. I stretched myself and made labels and signs and started the application process for a tax id number. We borrowed a table, got our tablecloth and bouquet of flowers. I baked bread for hours non-stop. Got up before dawn to make cinnamon rolls and chocolate brioche. Philip and the kids got up before 7am to help load up the goods. On a Saturday. Those of you who are remotely connected to this family know what an amazing feat that in itself is. (Well, those who really know us probably can guess who DID NOT make it to the first market!)

Table set, instructions given out to Maggie and Patrick, my backup. They were to man the booth while I went to a Biodynamic composting workshop in another county. Whoosh. Customers started pouring in before 9 oclock and by 10 we were nearly sold out of our delicious freshly ground whole wheat goodies. What a surprise! It was such a blessing to see all of the farmers briskly handing over their fresh eggs, herbs, cookies and asparagus. Neighbors chatting on a beautiful spring morning. The best part, even better than seeing people taste and purchase the bread I worked so hard on, was seeing Patrick and Maggie interact with customers, instructing adults on the nutritional value of freshly milled whole wheat and eggs and poultry raised on healthy pastures.

Farmer's Market is definitely a new phase in the farm vision. We are all going to have to learn to adjust to a few more chores. Saturday morning sleep in may need to be a once a month luxury. Even so, I consider myself the luckiest working woman I know. Three years ago we had a dream that we could produce a good bit of the food we consume and produce enough extra to share with friends and to sell and pay a few bills. We have, and I feel most certain, may continue to hit a few bumps in the road as we try to figure out what we are doing as we forge full steam ahead. Nevertheless,it seems like we were made to live this life. As the Teacher says in Ecclesiastes 5:18: "Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot."

Now, if I could just figure out a system that would keep all the laundry washed, folded and put away... Wait a minute- that is what Mondays are for!